Cosmosphere slates open house

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center will hold it second annual Open House, Sunday, Feb. 9, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“There are people in Hutchinson, Wichita and the surrounding communities who have either never been to the Cosmosphere, or who haven’t been in many years,” said Richard Hollowell, Cosmosphere Chief Executive Officer. “We’re opening the doors to say, ‘Please come check us out!’ We’ve got something here for everyone to enjoy, and we’d like to show you what we’re all about.”

Every hour from 12 p.m. through 4 p.m., docents will lead guests on a complimentary tour of the Hall of Space Museum. The museum tells the story of the Space Race, covering both the United States’ and the Soviet Union’s achievements, successes and failures along the way. Every artifact in the museum is either an actual, flown space artifact, a flight-ready backup, and engineering model, or an historically accurate replica. On exhibit are the flown Liberty Bell 7 capsule, the flown Apollo 13 command module Odyssey, the flown Gemini 10 capsule, V-2 rockets and the SR-71 Blackbird suspended in flight in the lobby.

Alternating every hour from 12 p.m. through 4 p.m., Dr. Goddard’s Lab and “Night Sky Live” in the Justice Planetarium will be presented, complimentary, for Open House visitors. Dr. Goddard’s Lab is a live show presented by Cosmosphere educators exploring the history of rocketry, with some explosive demonstrations. “Night Sky Live” explores astronomy and the current position of the Earth as it relates to the Moon, stars and planets in our solar system.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy documentaries in the Carey Digital Dome Theater at a reduced price per person ($6).

In addition to these activities, the naviGATOR simulator will be available for guests to purchase rides on for $5 per person. The motion simulator by Flight Avionics of North America, provides six themed rides for visitors to choose from, from blasting off to the International Space Station to soaring with the Blue Angels.